RAF Museum London (Hendon) 14-03-10

After the visit to Duxford, Hendon was next on the list. Arriving at 9:30, we were not allowed to park on the museumparking, we had to wait till 10 o’ clock… So after a sightseeingtour we went back at 10 o’ clock.
The museumentrance is free and, just like Duxford, it consists out of several Halls.
First one was ‘Milestones of Flight’.

When entering the Hall there was already a positive point. There are touchscreens were you can see some info about the planes and were you watch some nice, original movies!

One floor higher there are two walls filled with Aces! Also two Belgians. This one got killed because of a crash at Congo in the late twenties..

overview with some nice planes like the Blériot XI, Mustang, Tempest, Mosquito, Miles Mohawk, Me262, …

For those who are interested there is a Simulator.
One side of the hall shows the entire history of aviation. The yellow line on top of the pic marks the distance from the first flight in 1903. This building was opened on 17-12-2003. Exactly 100 year after that memorable flight!

Next stop: Grahame-White Factory. Named after Claude Grahame-White who owned the first planefactory from the UK (1917). The hall consists out of original parts from the factory, but it’s relocated at the museumsite.
The Vickers Vimy is one of the planes it the collection.

Other planes are the Sopwith ‘Pup’ and a Hanrio HD-1 painted in Belgian colours.
Between all the old planes there are also some old vehicles. This one was used to start the props.

From the Grahame-White Factory to the Spitfire and Hurricane.

And on to the Battle of Britain Hall; the reason for my visit.
Entering the Hall, you first have to watch the exhibition with some interesting diorama’s and to-the-poin infopannels. They tell you the story from the beginning until the end of the battle. After that you enter the planehall where it is very dark!
At the hall you can watch an interesting documentary with light and soundeffects! A must watch when you visit the museum!

lists of people who died during the battle…

Pilot had to bail out when flying very low, he didn’t survive it…

Last stop: Historic Hangars and the Bomber Hall. These were very impressive! some planes: P40, Lightning, Hawker Typhoon, Lancaster, Vulcan, Heinkel He 162, Bristol Belvedere, Airborne Lifeboat, P47 Thunderbolt, …
some pics.

and after that, back to Belgium!
more at http://www.airplanepictures.tk